Samsung Bioepis accelerates push to expand market share in China

Samsung Bioepis announced on Monday that it has sealed a licensing agreement with C-Bridge Capital, its second Chinese partner, to expand its biosimilar market share in mainland China.

The Korean firm had earlier signed a similar partnership deal with 3Sbio.

Under the new agreement, C-Bridge’s newly established biopharmaceutical company AffaMed Therapeutics will collaborate with the Samsung unit for the clinical development, regulatory registration and commercialization of its drug candidates in China.

“C-Bridge is the right partner for (our) mission to widen access to high-quality health care for patients in China,” said Samsung Bioepis President and CEO Ko Han-sung.

Samsung Bioepis will receive an upfront payment, as well as royalties on sales. Further financial details were not disclosed.

Established in February 2012 as a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and US-based Biogen, Samsung Bioepis also has a partnership with Merck — known as MSD outside of North America — in Europe and the US.

Across Europe, the firm currently has four biosimilars that are approved and marketed, including anti-tumor necrosis factor trio of Benepali, Flixabi and Imraldi, and a breast cancer drug Ontruzant.

In the US, the company has one biosimilar — Renflexis — on the market. Ontruzant was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in January. A biologics license application for SB5 biosimilar candidate is currently under FDA review.